Highlights & Analysis: Golden Knights Fly Past Red Wings

Six days ago, the Vegas Golden Knights (41-20-8) were shutout by the Detroit Red Wings (32-31-6). On Saturday, they got their revenge. The Red Wings took an early lead on the power play, but the Golden Knights scored the equalizer exactly seven minutes later and never looked back.

Right from the start of the game, the Golden Knights were able to get sustained offensive zone pressure. However, they allowed the Red Wings three clean breakaways in the first period; Adin Hill came up strong.

The Red Wings broke the ice at 4:47 in the first period on the power play. Patrick Kane passed to Dylan Larkin, who fed the puck to Lucas Raymond. Raymond ripped a one-timer, and it redirected off Alex Pietrangelo’s stick past Adin Hill.

For the next five minutes, the game was evenly matched. The teams traded chances, but both goaltenders were sharp.

And then, the Golden Knights took over. Or, more accurately, Tomáš Hertl took over. The Red Wings had no answer for him, and he made them pay time and time again.

The Golden Knights tied it up on the power play. Jack Eichel looked for a pass and fed Mark Stone below the goal line. Stone held the puck and waited. Tomáš Hertl snuck through Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot, and Stone found him for a back door tap-in. 

Tomáš Hertl struck again less than five minutes later. Kaedan Korczak sent a cross-ice pass to Brayden McNabb, who wound up and fired a clapper. Hertl was parked in front of the net and redirected the puck through Cam Talbot’s five-hole.

The Golden Knights appeared to take a 3-1 lead on a Nic Hague goal, but the Red Wings successfully challenged for offsides. The Red Wings gained momentum from the disallowed goal and pushed hard to end the first period.

The Golden Knights scored their third goal just before the first period ended. Jack Eichel collected the puck at center ice and backhanded it up to Ivan Barbashev. Barbashev entered the zone and threaded a pass to Nic Roy. Roy got positioning on Moritz Seider and went forehand-backhand around Cam Talbot with just over two seconds remaining in the first period.

The Red Wings struck again on the power play less than two minutes into the second period. Brayden McNabb broke up Alex DeBrincat’s pass intended for Dylan Larkin. Moritz Seider got to the puck and flung it towards the net. Adin Hill went across the crease to rob him, but the rebound went right to Patrick Kane, who buried it.

The Golden Knights regained their two-goal lead a few minutes later. Noah Hanifin cut into the zone, curled up, and passed back to Alex Pietrangelo. Cam Talbot kicked aside Pietrangelo’s one-time blast, but the rebound went right to Mark Stone, who buried it.

Nine seconds later, the Red Wings sent the Golden Knights back to the power play. They scored a goal that was practically identical to their first. Jack Eichel fed Mark Stone below the goal line; Stone held the puck and waited, then threaded a cross-ice pass to Tomáš Hertl as he crashed the net.

The Golden Knights played a stifling third period. They kept the Red Wings to the outside and held them to just two high-danger scoring chances. 

The Red Wings cut the Golden Knights’ lead to two at 9:36 in the third period. Patrick Kane cut into the zone and fed Alex DeBrincat, who raced to the right dot and rifled a shot that beat Adin Hill over the glove.

The Red Wings were desperate for a win, but the Golden Knights didn’t give them any looks. The Red Wings emptied their net, but Jack Eichel buried the dagger at 17:59 in the third period for his fourth point of the game.

Golden Knights Game Notes

Tomáš Hertl’s hat trick was the third consecutive hat trick at T-Mobile Arena. Hertl recorded one on March 9th in a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, and Pavel Dorofeyev got one on Thursday against the Boston Bruins.

“I guess we scored three [hat tricks] in a row at home,” said Tomáš Hertl. “It’s always nice to score a hat trick, but I’m happier about the big win… If you score a hat trick and win, it’s way better.”

With a goal and three assists, Jack Eichel sits at 86 points this season. The Golden Knights have never had a 100-point player in their eight-year history. If Eichel can record 14 points over the final 13 games of the season, he’ll be the first.

Eichel’s empty net goal against Detroit was the 600th point of his career. He hit that milestone in just 607 career games.

Mark Stone’s first goal in seven games stood as the game-winner. 

Adin Hill was very good on Saturday. The Golden Knights allowed several breakaways and odd-man rushes early, and he kept them in the game until they found their legs. Hill finished the game with 28 saves and .45 goals saved above expected. Do you want a save on Detroit’s third goal? Maybe, but DeBrincat’s release is lethal. 

Tomáš Hertl moved past Pavel Dorofeyev for sole possession of the team lead in power play goals. He scored two tonight and has 14 on the season.

Hertl and Dorofeyev are now tied for the team lead in goals with 30.

Reilly Smith has been extremely unlucky in his second stint with the Golden Knights. He hasn’t found the back of the net yet, but that hasn’t been due to a lack of opportunities. He’s been playing very well; I have the feeling that once he gets one, goals will come in bunches. Maybe he’s saving all his goals for the postseason.

Three stars of the game: Tomáš Hertl, Jack Eichel, Mark Stone